Ah, the festive lights of NXT are upon us yet again. Welcome to Season 4, ladies and gents.
After the typical intro hulabaloo, we’re introduced to the Pros. We’re asked what’s up as R-Truth comes out. He introduces his rookie as being “the hottest thing since grits”, Johnny Curtis. Josh Matthews and Todd Grisham announce themselves as the most camera-friendly announce duo. I’m sure Jerry and his beloved hair plugs would disagree. Ted Dibiase and Maryse come out to introduce the powerhouse of the rookies, Brodus Clay (rather Samoa Joe like, minus the horrible booking. Crap, hope I didn’t jinx him). Chris Masters is next as he attempts to do a pandering face promo. Here comes his rookie, Byron Saxton. We here perfection as Mr. Ziggler comes out, steals an “awesome” line from the Miz, and introduces Jacob Novak, sporting a rancid looking white blazer (I’m hoping, Chantel, you’ve got an eye on this). The US Champ, Daniel Bryan, comes out to heroic music…and a lavender sweater. He introduces his “manly, so manly” rookie, Derrick Bateman. We get an espanol announcement of Alberto Del Rio, riding in a rather luxurious Benz (middle ground between JBL and Eddie?). He’s soon joined by Conor O’Brian.
Matt Striker goes through the formalities as Pro and Rookie alike fidget in their own unique way. Johnny Curtis gets the mic as he gives a few shout outs and vies for votes. He then goes Cap, saying a vote for him is a vote for freedom. Brodus Clay is next, channeling D’lo as he tells us to recognize. He’s coming in with lemon juice and razor blades (which, individually sound useful, but together just sounds awfully painful). And if we don’t like it, he’s got two words…er, things we can do. Nothing and like it. Next up, Byron Saxton, who apparently used to be a car salesman, judging from his promo. He wants to build a bond with us as we become the next breakout WWE star. And Jacob Novak is next, who says he likes Monopoly, because he liked being the thimble. That, and he likes to own things. Derrick Bateman is next as he pumps up his home state of Ohio. He instantly gets full credibility from me by referring to himself as “mantastic”. And lastly, we have Conor O’Brian, who says he looks like a rat, which he says makes him dirty. I mean, opportunistic.
This doesn’t please Alberto, who says O’Brian came off boring “like Daniel Bryan”. Bryan retorts, and we have the completely unpredictable set up for Del Rio/O’Brian vs. Bryan/Batemen.
We return with a nice little video package of Byran Saxton. The kid’s got potential if he doesn’t stay a shade of green for too long.
The bell rings as the premiere match for Season 4, Johnny Curtis vs. Jacob Novak, is underway. Curtis gets the best of a few armbar exchanges. Novak gets Jacob in a corner and adds a few shoulder thrusts to his ribs. Irish whip reversal starts a series of counters with Curtis getting the upper hand. Backslide by Curtis leads to the first pinfall attempt. Belly to back suplex by Novak and a nearfall.
Novak stomps and punches away at Curtis, followed by a boot and another nearfall. Resthold on Curtis, followed by the eventual comeback capped with clotheslines, forearms, and a powerslam. Running knee in the corner missed by Curtis, but a kick to the back isn’t. Curtis puts the exclamation point with a leg drop from the top and that’s all she wrote. Truth and Curtis celebrate in the yellow-ringed squared circle.
Another video package, this time of Brodus Clay. Apparently, a suplex machine and former bodyguard of Snoopy? Really?! Oh, wait, nevermind, it was just some guy named Snoop Dogg.
We’re back with the first Rookie challenge, which, if you’ve been absent during the past three seasons, grants the winner an immunity for the week. This week, it’s “capture the flag”. Jacob Novak ends up winning immunity…after losing his first match.
We’re bouncing back to a Raw Recap, and I gotta tell you, A-Ri’s little comment about Randy leaving on his “hands and knees” has yet to make me not uncomfortable.
Some backstage antics between Ted and Maryse lead to a potential makeover for Brodus.
And yet more backstage antics between Masters and Saxton lead to a pose off. Am I wrong for assuming some sexual tension there?
Main event time, as Bryan and Bateman take on Del Rio and O’Brian. The rookies start off in the ring. O’Brian gets the advantage as he tags in Del Rio, who looks more and more impressive in the ring. Snapmare on Bateman, followed by a cheap shot to Bryan. A scoop slam on Bateman leads to a tag in, and O’Brian gets a nearfall. Snap suplex and a tag later, O’Brian tags in his pro again. Del Rio gets a nearfall and tags O’Brian back in. Bateman gets caught in a drop toe hold and another nearfall. Bateman finally tags in Daniel Bryan and hits his helicopter spin on O’Brian. Bryan knocks both his opponents outside of the ring as he tags in Batemen, who hits a suicide dive on both O’Brian and Del Rio and into a commercial.
We’re back as Bryan has the upper hand against O’Brian. Del Rio finally gets tagged in, and after a double team, gets a few nearfalls on Bryan. Del Rio adds some knees and a resthold, which indicates a quick comeback by Bryan, who gets a nearfall via sunset flip. Del Rio kills Bryan’s momentum with a dropkick and tags in his rookie. O’Brian hits a snap suplex and gets a nearfall as Dolph Ziggler relates this match to something of not so great quality. Del Rio gets tagged in, but Bryan mounts another comeback with a couple of boots to the face. He tags in Bateman, who explodes (to no heat from the crowd) on Del Rio. A few clotheslines, a dropkick, and a nearfall later, Bateman his a neckbreaker, only for O’Brian to interrupt the count. Bryan takes out O’Brian with a suicide dive of his own. Bateman attempts a flying axe handle, but misses. Del Rio catches Bateman with the cross arm breaker, and a tapout is how this main event ends.
That’s all he wrote, ladies and gents.
